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for the fathers' sakes.
For the gifts and calling of God are without
repentance'.
In studying dispensational truth, therefore, the presence or absence of
`the fathers' as a factor will be an index that must not be neglected. While
the word `forefathers' found in 2 Timothy 1:3 translates an entirely different
Greek word, namely progonos, Paul's reference to it provides an illustration of
this dispensational fact.
`I thank God, Whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience' (2
Tim. 1:3).
2 Timothy 1:1 -7 Salutation and Remembrance
A
1:1-2.
Salutation
a
1.
Paul an apostle.
b
1. Will of God. Promise of life.
a
2.
Timothy. Beloved son.
b
2.
Grace, mercy and peace.
A
1:3 -7.
Remembrance
c
3.
My forefathers.
d
3.
Pure conscience.
e
3.
Remembrance.
4.
Remembrance.
5.
Remembrance.
d
5.
Unfeigned faith.
c
5.
Thy grandmother and
mother.
e
6,7. Remembrance.
It will be observed that Paul places his reference to his `forefathers'
in correspondence with that to Timothy's `grandmother and mother', and his own
`pure conscience' with the `unfeigned faith that was in Timothy, Lois and
Eunice'. What is the significance of this? Is it conformity or contrast? We
learn that Timothy's mother and grandmother were Christians, for the same faith
that dwelt in Timothy at the time of Paul's writing to him had dwelt also in
his mother and his grandmother. Could Paul say the same of his progenitors?
He could not. Were they not Israelites, Hebrews, Pharisees? Did not Paul's
parents send him to the school of Gamaliel? Was he not trained after the
`straitest sect' of his religion? What therefore does Paul intend by this
double reference to his forefathers and to Timothy's parents?
Among other things in this hour of their trial he would remind Timothy of
any and every advantage and encouragement that would stand him in good stead;
of the careful training in the Scriptures he had received from infancy (2 Tim.
3:15); of the example that had been before him all the intervening years since
he first received the call to follow the apostle (Acts 16; 2 Tim. 3:10,11); and
of the gift that was in him (2 Tim. 1:6); even as he had reminded him of the
prophecies that went before the bestowal of that gift (1 Tim. 4:14).
But he would not only remind Timothy of all these things, he would also
help him if possible by contrast. The word which the A.V. translated
`forefathers' is progonos,. and is used but once only elsewhere in the New
Testament, namely in 1 Timothy 5:4. To the intelligent and submissive student
this fact is enough to settle the apostle's meaning in the second passage.
Timothy could have no idea that Paul spoke of distant and long -dead
`ancestors' where he exhorts: `Let them learn first to show piety at home and
to requite their parents' (1 Tim. 5:4), and there is no necessity to depart